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  • đŸ’Ș Still sharp after 50 years | Sports Daily Newsletter

    đŸ’Ș Still sharp after 50 years | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Merrill Reese will begin his 50th season on Sunday as the voice of the Eagles.

    The longtime broadcaster has voiced two Super Bowl wins, told you the Eagles stopped ‘em again, and made the word “good” sound great.

    After turning 84 earlier this month, Reese has no plans of retiring. So don’t call 2026 a farewell tour because he says he isn’t going anywhere.

    Through it all, his wife of 47 years, Cindy, has been by his side, making sure her husband stays sharp for game days, and she may be the secret to Reese’s longevity.

    One legend, however, is hanging up the cleats — for a second time. Brandon Graham announced on Tuesday he was “officially done”playing football.

    From his strip sack against Tom Brady in the Eagles’ first-ever Super Bowl victory to becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, Graham’s had quite the NFL career. He — and his trash talk — will be missed.

    — Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓Who is your favorite sports broadcaster and why? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Moving up

    Aidan Miller was batting third and playing shortstop for double-A Reading on Tuesday night.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Aidan Miller took another step forward. His rehab assignment was transferred from single-A Clearwater to double-A Reading, where he was scheduled to play seven innings on Tuesday night. Reading has a week remaining before its postseason begins on Sept. 15, allowing for more regular game action after Miller’s return from injury.

    Andrew Painter’s struggles through five innings and baserunning miscues contributed to the Phillies’ series opening loss to the Astros. The setback prevented the Phillies from gaining ground in both the division and wild-card races.

    And stay up to date with the National League East and wild-card standings through our MLB playoff tracker.

    What we’re …

    🏈 Reminiscing: Brandon Graham says he’s done with football. Let’s relive some of his most memorable moments.

    đŸ€” Wondering: With Week 1 of the NFL season kicking off today, we found an Eagles or Philly connection on the 31 other teams.

    🏀 Learning: Brynn McCurry will miss Villanova’s 2026-27 season after having surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus.

    🙌 Praising: This Penn State defensive tackle is using his name, image, and likeness earnings to help his family.

    Ready for his close-up

    Eagles coaches have praised DeVonta Smith’s offseason and training camp presence, as he prepares for an even more prominent role in 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    For the first time since his rookie season, DeVonta Smith is a No. 1 wide receiver. He excelled in that role in college and had a record-breaking first season, but he’s lived in the shadow of A.J. Brown for the last four years.

    Now, it’s time for Smith’s close-up, and he has the backing of his current teammates and coaches, too.

    And the man seeking to help Saquon Barkley elevate his game is a quarterback by trade. But Sean Mannion’s expertise isn’t limited to the passing game. Olivia Reiner gives us an inside look on how Mannion intends to revive the run game.

    Want to play a game? We took six preseason photos and made one change: the ball is missing. Guess where you think it is.

    Distributing the load

    The Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey (left) and Jaylen Brown will play a big part in making their star-studded roster work. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The 76ers have a lot of talent on their roster, but it raises a question about roles since there’s only one ball to go around. However, most teams would be lucky to have this as one of its main issues heading into training camp.

    And “to win, you got to be able to sacrifice,” says Jaylen Brown. So let’s look at this from the lens of statistics. Chris Hine evaluates how often a player consumes his team’s possessions, usage rate, and more.

    Blue-line buds

    Luke Vlooswyk (right) was watching the draft in Voorhees when his Everett teammate and defensive partner Brek Liske was drafted by the Flyers.Courtesy of Luke Vlooswyk

    When the Flyers get together this week for the commencement of rookie camp, there will be a lot of introductions and first-day-of-school vibes.

    But that won’t be the case for defensemen Brek Liske and Luke Vlooswyk. Why? Liske and Vlooswyk are teammates with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, and will be partnered up this season once they return to juniors.

    After a stretch together last season, the tandem will take on a larger role in 2026-27 and let’s just say they have high expectations.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Which Phillies player hit the longest recorded home run in franchise history at Citizens Bank Park?

    A) Kyle Schwarber

    B) Ryan Howard

    C) Bryce Harper

    D) Jim Thome

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Matt Breen, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Chris Hine, Ryan Novozinsky, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Charmaine Runes, Garland Fordice, Mia Messina, Conor Smith, Finn Courtney, and Lexie Linderman.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Hope you had a restful holiday weekend. Thanks for reading, and Maria will be back in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella

  • Flyers prospects Brek Liske and Luke Vlooswyk have lofty goals as junior teammates: ‘I think we’ll be the best D pair in the league’

    Flyers prospects Brek Liske and Luke Vlooswyk have lofty goals as junior teammates: ‘I think we’ll be the best D pair in the league’

    According to assistant general manager Brent Flahr, Brek Liske, the Flyers’ first of two second-round picks in the 2026 NHL draft, has some “swagger.”

    Maybe that swagger rubbed off on Luke Vlooswyk because, as the defenseman spoke to The Inquirer in late June at development camp, he made a bit of a guarantee.

    “I think we’ll be the best D pair in the league next year,” the Flyers’ 2025 fifth-rounder confidently told The Inquirer at development camp.

    Flyers prospect Luke Vlooswyk isn’t the only athlete in his family. His mom, ‘Lisa Longball,’ is an 8-time Canadian long drive champ

    Acquired by Everett of the Western Hockey League from Red Deer last January, Vlooswyk, 19, linked up with Liske until the first round of the WHL playoffs when Liske was bumped up to the top pair. Liske, 18, impressed there while slotted alongside projected 2027 No. 1 pick Landon Dupont as the Silvertips made a run to the Memorial Cup final.

    With Dupont now teammates with Flyers center prospect Jack Nesbitt at the University of Michigan, Vlooswyk and Liske, who both will participate in Flyers rookie camp this week, are expected to be Everett’s top defensive duo.

    “Really well,” Everett coach Steve Hamilton said when asked how they played together after Vlooswyk was traded to the Washington State-based team.

    “We’re very fast [in] the way we play, in the way we pressure, the way we transition, defend,” he added. “We expect our guys to close quickly, and just try to apply the pressure to get the puck back right away, and both of those guys just have an aggressive mindset, and they move pucks well. 
 We want to transition right away, and anytime we get a change of possession, we want our defensemen to be involved, and both of those guys appreciate that style of play.”

    Brek Liske (left) and Luke Vlooswyk (right) celebrate after winning the Western Hockey League championship last season.Courtesy Luke Vlooswyk

    The pairing is prototypical. At 6-foot-5, Vlooswyk is the big, stay-at-home, shutdown defenseman with a long reach. The smaller Liske, at 6-1, likes to have the puck on his stick and has a little more offensive pop in his game — he had seven goals and 24 points in 52 games last season.

    But the pairing is also unorthodox. It is not a righty-lefty combination, which is what Flyers coach Rick Tocchet typically likes.

    Liske and Vlooswyk are akin to Travis Sanheim and Cam York, two lefties who played together under ex-coach John Tortorella, except Liske and Vlooswyk are both righties. Liske is the one playing the off-side, increasing his versatility Ă  la Sanheim.

    “Yeah, it is a big difference, right?” he said at development camp. “A lot of stuff on the backhand. The biggest thing was I just had to learn how to place the puck better, if that makes sense, have it at my hip more. You’re ready to open up instead of being able to just snap it. It’s a little harder, but probably took a couple of games of adjustment and [I] figured it out.”

    “I think his defensive identity is helpful,” noted Hamilton about Liske during a phone interview in late June. “He’s very subtle. He’s physical in his own way, but very effective, great stick. And I think ultimately, going forward as an NHL player, that’s probably more going to be his strength. 
 But, I think he’s got a really good understanding that he can bring things in all areas.

    Draft pick Brek Liske grew up a Flyers fan thanks to his dad: ‘I think he’s a little bit more in awe than I am right now.’

    “So, honestly, self-assessment is a skill in itself these days, and he’s got a very good handle on who he is. In terms of growth, as a young player 
 he’s going to need to continue to work on his skating, and the NHL is the best of the best. I feel like he really moves well at our level, and I know with time and training, and continuing to get stronger, that his skating will be NHL caliber.”

    Hamilton sees Liske as a middle-pair blueliner in the NHL, and the kid from Manitoba has a lot of motivation to reach that level — especially with the Flyers. His father, Lonnie, is a massive fan of the Orange and Black, and when the 18-year-old spoke to the media via Zoom after hearing his name called, he was already donning a Flyers jersey.

    Flyers second-round pick Brek Liske grew up a Flyers fan due to his dad’s love for the Broad Street Bullies.Jackie Spiegel

    “First time I ever met his dad, Lonnie, he said to me, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe my son is D partners with a future Philadelphia Flyer. Like, this is unbelievable,’” Vlooswyk recalled. “And for him to be drafted here now, I can’t even imagine what emotions are running through that family. It’s pretty cool.”

  • Don Mattingly, Brandon Marsh lament Phillies’ baserunning miscues after loss to Astros: ‘It can cost you a game’

    Don Mattingly, Brandon Marsh lament Phillies’ baserunning miscues after loss to Astros: ‘It can cost you a game’

    Alec Bohm stopped after he should’ve gone. Brandon Marsh kept going after he should’ve stopped.

    In the spaces between, the Phillies lost.

    It all happened within a five-pitch span of the seventh inning Tuesday night in a 6-5 loss to the Astros, and it prevented the Phillies from gaining ground in both the division and wild-card races.

    But it also exposed an insidious weakness. Because while the bullpen’s tendency to melt like soft serve and shortcomings on defense tend to be more glaring, baserunning is often an issue for the Phillies, too.

    A fifth straight postseason is in sight. Here are the big things to watch from the Phillies over the final month.

    “There’s games that the small things cost you runs, chances,” interim manager Don Mattingly said after the Phillies remained four games behind the NL East-leading Braves and a half-game ahead of the Cubs for the top wild card. “It can cost you a game.”

    Never more than in that seventh inning.

    Trailing 6-3 after Andrew Painter dropped them into an early 5-0 hole, the Phillies led off with a double from Bohm. Bryson Stott got hit by a pitch before Marsh crushed a fastball 403 feet toward Monty’s Angle, the part of the fence in left-center that juts back from 387 feet to 409.

    Daulton Varsho, the Astros’ Gold Glove-winner who ran around the Citizens Bank Park outfield when his dad was the Phillies’ bench coach in the early 2000s, tried to run it down but was unable to make what would’ve been a sensational catch.

    Bohm retreated to second base as Stott approached the bag and didn’t start running until the ball hit the wall and ricocheted into center field. Instead of two runs scoring and Marsh winding up on third base, only Bohm scored, with the speedier Stott on his heels and held up at third.

    Mattingly, who coached Varsho over the last few years with the Blue Jays, didn’t take issue with Bohm’s read. Still, instead of cutting the margin to 6-5 with nobody out and the tying run on third for J.T. Realmuto, it was 6-4 with the tying run on second.

    “That one doesn’t bother me at all because, I mean, I’ve seen [Varsho] catch that ball,” Mattingly said.“He’s close enough that that one’s fine.”

    OK, but it also left Marsh at second base when Realmuto scorched a 102.9-mph liner to shortstop Jeremy Peña, who dove to his right and snared it. Marsh, already almost halfway to third base, was easily doubled off at second.

    ‘He’s been so key for us’: Is Jhoan Duran having the best season ever by a Phillies closer?

    “The double-play ball is, for me, a little bit more where you get away from your principles,” Mattingly said. “Score of the game, we’re down two there, nobody out. If the ball gets through, Stott scores, Marshy’s at third. First and third, nobody out, you like your chances that you’re going to get it tied up.

    “So, your principles say ‘freeze.’ I was taught freeze, and a lot of organizations teach [go] back on that play. Just too aggressive.”

    Marsh agreed, regrettably.

    “It’s unacceptable for me to take a step toward third,” he said. “It’s a huge mistake by me. Really no excuse. Just a really bad play on my part.”

    Edmundo Sosa celebrates after hitting an RBI double in the ninth inning.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Even though the expected batting average on Realmuto’s line drive was .710, according to Statcast?

    “No, I’ve got to get back,” Marsh said. “First step’s got to be to my left there. No explanation other than I was just wrong and I have to clean that up and be better in the future if we want to be where we want to be at the end of the year.”

    The Phillies rallied again in the ninth inning against Astros closer Josh Hader, but once again, baserunning contributed to their downfall. Edmundo Sosa didn’t run hard out of the box on a long drive to center field and wound up with an RBI double rather than a potential triple. The next three batters flew out to end the game.

    NL wild-card standings

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    “I was watching the ball, so I didn’t see if he was going full speed all the way,” Mattingly said. “I was a little surprised, when I looked up, where he was at. 
 I was wondering why he really wasn’t as far as he should have been.”

    If Sosa was on third, could he have scored on Derek Hill’s one-out fly ball to medium-depth right field?

    “I’m not sure about that,” Mattingly said. “But I mean, that’s kind of [neither] here nor there at that point. I think, just in general, when you talk about the way you should play and things you should do on the field, that’s really more important than could he or should he have scored on the next play.”

    Mattingly suggested that baserunning is lacking across the sport, not only among his team.

    Bryce Harper had his best month as a Phillie in August, and even he is not quite sure how he’s done it

    “It’s one of the things that I’ve noticed in the game all over the place,” he said. “Players are better probably now than they’ve ever been. Obviously pitchers are throwing harder and tougher to hit than they’ve ever been. Baserunning, for me, has kind of went a little backward in a lot of scenarios, not just here but all over the place.

    “I think you should always learn from it. And you should always stay on it.”

  • This Penn State defensive tackle is paying for his family’s internet so they can watch him play

    This Penn State defensive tackle is paying for his family’s internet so they can watch him play

    As eighth-year defensive tackle Siale Taupaki took the field for the first time at Penn State on Saturday, his parents, Kolo and Seilose, sat in their California home, ready to watch their son start in Beaver Stadium.

    But they wouldn’t be able to watch him if it weren’t for the internet service that Taupaki pays for.

    “We don’t watch a lot of TV back at home,” Taupaki said Tuesday. “We just work and rest, and that’s about it. But aside from that, I was glad that they [were] able to see it for themselves.”

    Taupaki left his home state this offseason, opting to transfer to Penn State after seven seasons at UCLA. He also moved across the country from his family.

    That leap of faith came after Taupaki spoke with Matt Campbell on the phone while he was in the transfer portal. The first thing Campbell asked about was Taupaki’s family, which instantly sold the defensive tackle on playing for the Nittany Lions.

    “Not a lot of people asked for my family or everyone else that came with me,” said Taupaki, who has compiled 39 tackles and two sacks in his career. “He asked specifically, how was my mom, how was my dad. With that, I knew he was a family man, then he was a football coach. So from there, I knew I could come to him about anything because he’s a father before he was a coach.”

    However, playing for Campbell at Penn State means Taupaki’s parents couldn’t watch him in person. Taupaki said they’re too old to fly, leaving limited options to see their son play this season.

    LSU cracks top 10, Michigan falls out of AP Top 25, Penn State moves up to No. 16

    So Taupaki is trying to keep them involved as much as he can.

    He called his family after Penn State’s win over Marshall and told them about the game-day atmosphere in Happy Valley, which included seeing cows and horses. “You don’t see that a lot in the West Coast,” Taupaki said.

    “I told them [Beaver Stadium] is bigger and better,” he said. “That’s it. My pops told me that he had the chills just hearing about it, because he can visualize in the game.”

    With his name, image, and likeness income, Taupaki is helping his family.

    “My parents are still struggling,” he said. “I’m broke. I’m really just trying to fill in all the holes that I have back at home, understanding the platform that I’m having, and just seeing all of that stuff and understanding how far I came.”

    Siale Taupaki (92) with offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh (68) on Aug. 7.Craig Houtz / For The Inquirer

    Taupaki said he came from “nothing.” At one point growing up, he and 22 family members lived in a two-bedroom house, so some had to sleep outside.

    Those tough times made Taupaki who he is today — someone who wants to learn about everybody on his team, where they come from, and what their story is. He also shakes every media member’s hand before leaving his press conference.

    When he returns home, Taupaki isn’t a Penn State starting defensive tackle. Rather, he’s a son continuing to help give his parents a better life.

    “Everything that I got to do beforehand and afterhand, I got to do it based off my parents,” he said. “That football stuff is out the door. So the opportunity I got with the NIL era and the great coaching staff and all that, I’m thankful for that. But at the end of the day, I still got stuff to do as a son. So to play my role as that, I’m forever grateful.”

  • LeBron James is partnering with Polymarket. The prediction markets can raise ethical concerns.

    LeBron James is partnering with Polymarket. The prediction markets can raise ethical concerns.

    Where LeBron James would choose to play the final years of his storied career was a fixture on prediction markets this summer. Now, James could benefit from the boom of those platforms.

    On Saturday, James shared a short video on social media announcing a partnership with the prediction platform Polymarket. The Sixer then posted a longer commercial-ready version of the video Tuesday, in which James visits Polymarket’s fictional headquarters and its “sports” floor.

    In his tour around the office, Eli Manning, Derek Jeter, Spike Lee, Sue Bird, Emily Ratajkowski, John Leguizamo, and other athletes and celebrities make cameos promoting the platform ahead of football season.

    It is unclear what the nature of James’ partnership with Polymarket is, or if the partnership extends beyond this commercial. Polymarket did not respond to questions about James’ partnership.

    James’ partnership raises ethical questions about whether an active athlete should be promoting and benefiting from gambling platforms, and particularly prediction markets, where inside information and influence could sway bets or determine their outcomes.

    Polymarket and other prediction markets typically have rules prohibiting insider trading and are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The NBA has no policy against its athletes partnering with prediction markets, and is likely to join other leagues by announcing its own official prediction market partnerships before the start of the forthcoming season, as reported by Front Office Sports.

    Prediction markets vs. traditional gambling

    Polymarket and other prediction markets argue they are distinct from traditional sports gambling platforms because there is no “house” that sets odds and stands opposite gamblers. Instead, bets are agreements between individuals and the market sets the odds. But in practice, prediction markets function similarly to sportsbooks, with even more opportunities to wager money.

    Prediction markets offer opportunities that go beyond traditional bets on wins and stats, like which teams won’t win the Super Bowl, which team a free agent player might sign with, or whether a quarterback will average a certain number of fantasy football points over the season. The bets are phrased as binary, yes-or-no outcomes.

    Prediction market offerings extend beyond sports, bringing even more ethical questions — at any moment someone can bet on whether a public figure will say a particular word during a speech, when traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will return to normal levels, or the number of confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026. Last month, several Democratic senators wrote a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission demanding it stop allowing bets on California wildfires.

    “Prediction markets have been enabled to expand rapidly, increasingly inviting speculation on war, political violence, disasters, and public emergencies that raise ethical and public policy concerns. These markets risk creating perverse incentives, undermining public trust and commodifying human suffering,” they wrote.

    A Kalshi advertisement at a bus stop in Washington, D.C. Daniel Heuer

    A U.S. Special Forces soldier was arrested in April after authorities said he made more than $400,000 using insider information to place Polymarket bets on the military’s raid capturing Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.

    Athletes are typically prohibited from placing traditional bets on their own leagues, but the rules on prediction markets are less defined. A few months ago, the NBA, MLB, and their players unions sent a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission asking it to bar athletes and league employees from betting on the NBA and MLB in prediction markets.

    The gray areas of legality and ethics around sports gambling are how Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper became the center of controversy this summer, after The Inquirer reported that Harper had sent a personalized video on behalf of the sports betting platform FanDuel to a man who had become addicted to gambling.

    Harper later said he did not have a partnership with FanDuel, and was not aware what the video was being used for or that it was going to someone with a gambling addiction.

    More partnerships on the way?

    Despite the ethical issues, partnerships between athletes and prediction markets appear to be growing. James seems to be the only active athlete partnered with Polymarket, but other major athletes — including soccer star Lionel Messi — have deals with a competitor, Kalshi, or have invested in the platform.

    Elsewhere in the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo announced he had become a Kalshi shareholder in February, just after the NBA trade deadline, when Antetokounmpo had been the subject of numerous trade rumors attracting bets on prediction platforms. On deadline day, Antetokounmpo tweeted a clip from The Wolf of Wall Street to happily announce he was not leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, but over the summer, he successfully pushed for a trade to the Miami Heat.

    Bettors on Kalshi reportedly traded more than $23 million over Antetokounmpo’s future during the deadline betting window.

    “One of the things in terms of the ethical issues [of the partnership] is the timing,” Melinda Roth, a professor of business, finance, and sports law at Washington and Lee University, told Fortune magazine of Antetokounmpo’s investment. “The timing really puts a spotlight on how prediction markets work, who is allowed to buy contracts, and who has inside information.”

    Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, left, shares a laugh with Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, right, during an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Philadelphia.Chris Szagola / AP

    Yet the future of prediction markets is somewhat unclear. They have the backing of President Donald Trump’s administration. Meanwhile, some states are attempting to wrest regulatory control back from the federal government, and the issue may soon come before the U.S. Supreme Court.

    But the direct ties between prediction markets with athletes are not necessarily inevitable — the NFL and PGA Tour prohibit their players from partnering with prediction markets.

    Only a few years ago, James took a much different stance on sports gambling, saying the practice was taking the integrity out of sports.

    “It’s weird that some of our regular fans that love the game kind of only care about a parlay now. 
 It’s kind of taken some of the integrity out of the game because people are kind of really only caring about the betting,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 2023.

    A year later, James signed an endorsement deal with the sports betting platform DraftKings, promoting wagers during football season in a series of commercials alongside Kevin Hart.

  • Phillies prospect Aidan Miller moves up to double A in his return from injury

    Phillies prospect Aidan Miller moves up to double A in his return from injury

    Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller took another incremental step forward on Tuesday in his return from his low back condition.

    Miller’s rehab assignment was transferred from single-A Clearwater to double-A Reading, where he was scheduled to play seven innings on Tuesday night. The 22-year-old played just one game for the Threshers, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk on Saturday.

    On Tuesday, he was in the Fightin’ Phils lineup at shortstop, hitting No. 3 in the order.

    Ronald Acuña Jr., the Braves’ edition of Bryce Harper, is the latest Philly villain. Which is great

    Likely contributing to the decision is the fact that Clearwater’s regular season has already ended, with the Threshers playing their first playoff game on Tuesday. Reading has a week remaining before their postseason begins on Sept. 15, allowing for more regular game action.

    But Miller will also be facing a higher level of competition in double A, one that he grew accustomed to in 2025 when he hit .259 with an .809 OPS for the Fightin’ Phils.

    Miller is ranked the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect and No. 61 overall by MLB Pipeline, but at one point it looked like 2026 might be a lost season for him. A sore back that bothered him in spring training turned into a diagnosis of discogenic pain and facet inflammation in the lumbar spine, which was ultimately treated with a minimally invasive procedure.

    Aidan Miller had an .809 OPS at double-A Reading in 2025.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    While the initial timeline announced by the Phillies was six to eight weeks to return to games following the June 5 procedure, Miller did not appear in a game until Sept. 5.

    “As far as the long-term effects, positive, negative, I would let the [medical] experts speak to that,” farm director Luke Murton said on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast. “But I feel pretty confident, [based on] what we’ve been seeing lately, that he’s on the right trajectory to be with us and be a good player for a long time.”

    The Astros’ Yordan Alvarez is making a run at the AL triple crown this season.David J. Phillip

    Limiting Alvarez

    The Phillies were surely glad to see the last of Ronald Acuña Jr. — at least, until they head to Atlanta on Friday — after his two home runs against them during the Braves series. But the Astros came to town on Tuesday with another star in tow in designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who is having a career year.

    Alvarez was penciled in Houston’s lineup in the No. 2 spot on Tuesday.

    “What’s not the challenge of Yordan?” said interim manager Don Mattingly. “If you look at the numbers, he kind of handles all zones, all pitches. I just think you got to be really careful with him. He’s been this way for a long time. This year seems to be better than ever, but he’s always been a guy that you don’t feel like there’s a lot of places to go. You can’t do the same things over and over with him. He makes adjustments. So yeah, he’s a handful.”

    Phillies building up Tanner Banks to multi-inning role as he nears return from injured list

    Alvarez will continue his pursuit of the American League triple crown against the Phillies. If he can maintain his hold on the AL lead in batting average (.314), homers (38, tied for first with Tampa’s Junior Caminero), and RBIs (95, tied for first with Baltimore’s Pete Alonso), Alvarez would become baseball’s first winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.

    Mattingly knows firsthand how difficult of an accomplishment that would be. He never won a triple crown in his 14 seasons playing for the Yankees, but he won the AL batting title in 1984 with a .343 average. In his MVP year in 1985, Mattingly led the AL in RBIs with 145 but finished fourth in homers (35) and third in average (.324).

    “It just talks about his year, what he’s kind of balanced in everything, from average to his on-base [percentage], his power, driving in runs when they need him. So yeah, he’s just having a tremendous year,” Mattingly said. “He’s been a great player for me for a long time, and now I think you get a better view of it, because it’s more of a national thing with the triple crown in mind. You see it all the time on the scoreboards and things like that. So yeah, he’s having a great year.”

    Extra bases

    Infield coach Bobby Dickerson took over duties as the Phillies’ first base coach on Tuesday as Paco Figueroa is dealing with a hip injury. Figueroa was still in the dugout. 
 Cristopher Sánchez (16-5, 2.58 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday opposite Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (5-3, 3.31). 
 The Phillies announced that Flyers forward Porter Martone will throw out the first pitch before Thursday’s series finale.

  • LIV Golf files for bankruptcy protection in New Jersey as it tries to survive in a smaller version

    LIV Golf files for bankruptcy protection in New Jersey as it tries to survive in a smaller version

    LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday in New Jersey with more than $500 million in debt, part of its goal to revive the league without Saudi funding.

    The move was widely expected after the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia abruptly ended its financial support after the final event of the 2026 season. LIV said it has agreed to a restructuring plan with BC Partners as the primary source of its capital.

    “This process gives us the structure and time to pursue a landmark transaction and begin the next chapter of LIV Golf,” CEO Scott O’Neil said in a news release.

    O’Neil has said “LIV Golf 2.0” would feature players as majority owners in a reduced schedule. In a letter to LIV Golf fans, O’Neil said the new look would expand the size of the field from 57 to 75 players and introduce a 54-hole cut for the first time.

    In a letter to LIV Golf fans, CEO Scott O’Neil said the new look would expand the size of the field from 57 to 75 players and introduce a 54-hole cut for the first time.Matthew Harris

    He said the team concept would be built around nationalities and that LIV would continue to tap some of its more successful markets in Australia, South Africa and Asia.

    Still, the new version would be a shell of what LIV had been when it launched in June 2022 — enormous signing bonuses to lure away top names from the PGA Tour, and excessive spending that topped more than $5 billion before PIF said in April it was pulling the plug.

    Still to be determined is the future of the biggest stars still with LIV, most notably Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Rahm is playing the Irish Open this week and told BBC Northern Ireland: “I still have a contract with LIV 1.0 that I’m more than willing to fulfill. Like I said, time will tell.”

    Rahm, DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith were the leading four creditors listed in the filing.

    LIV listed between $100 million and $500 million in estimated assets, and $500 million and $1 billion in liabilities.

  • Sixers sign Dillon Jones to bolster training camp roster, potentially compete for two-way spot

    Sixers sign Dillon Jones to bolster training camp roster, potentially compete for two-way spot

    As training camp nears, the 76ers have added to their list of training camp invitees, with the latest coming in Dillon Jones.

    Jones will join the Sixers on an exhibit 10 contract, a source said. That contract will allow him to come to camp and compete for one of the remaining two-way roster spots the Sixers have open.

    The Oklahoma City Thunder took Jones, 24, with the 26th pick of the 2024 draft, and he spent his first season in Oklahoma City. A 6-foot-5 forward, he averaged 10.2 minutes and 2.5 points in 54 games. He also appeared in 10 games that postseason as the Thunder won the championship.

    Sixers add three players in advance of training camp, including Jameer Nelson Jr.

    Last summer, the Thunder traded him to the Wizards, who waived him before the start of the season. Jones ended up signing a two-way contract with the New York Knicks in January and appeared in seven games with the franchise.

    Jones will likely be in the mix for a two-way contract with the Sixers, who have Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love as two of their allotted three two-way deals. A two-way contract doesn’t count toward a team’s total on the salary cap but players on two-way deals can’t participate in the playoffs.

    Jones joins other training camp invitees the Sixers announced last week that included Jameer Nelson Jr., the son of Sixers general manager Jameer Nelson, Saint Thomas and veteran center Tacko Fall.

    Jones played in college for four years at Weber State, where he averaged 20.9 points in his senior year.

  • Fantasy meets football — er, soccer — in Union’s latest ticket promo

    Fantasy meets football — er, soccer — in Union’s latest ticket promo

    Philadelphia soccer fans may want to brush up on their dragon lore.

    The Union are hosting a Fourth Wing theme night on Wednesday at Subaru Park, based on the popular romantasy (fantasy romance) book by Rebecca Yarros that’s part of the Empyrean series.

    The “Wing Leader” package costs $90.51 and comes with a ticket to Wednesday night’s game against FC Cincinnati (7:30 p.m., FS1, Apple TV), scarf, tote bag, book, and a Yarros-autographed bookplate. A “Dragon Rider” package that includes a ticket and scarf already is sold out.

    “It’s an opportunity to attract a new audience and maybe get some people out to a Union soccer match that have never been before,” said Greg Imming, the club’s vice president of group and inside ticket sales. “A lot of these people, north of 70%, are new to our database. So that tells me a lot of these people have probably never been to a Union match before.”

    A selection of the swag available as part of the Union’s “Fourth Wing” theme night.Philadelphia Union

    A portion of the proceeds from each ticket will go toward supporting the Trevor Project, which works to prevent suicide and provide crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth around the country.

    Though Yarros will not attend Wednesday’s game, it’s one of several Fourth Wing nights taking place across professional sports this year, after the series took the adult fiction genre by storm.

    The dedication of Yarros’ fan base has certainly been felt by the Union.

    “If you read Fourth Wing, you are really into Fourth Wing, for sure,” Imming said with a laugh. “Once Yarros puts out a tweet or an Instagram post, we definitely saw an uptick in sales coming through, which is great.”

    As the Union push for the playoffs, Ryan Richter is ‘never going to be excited about being in ninth place’

    Other teams hosting Fourth Wing or Empyrean nights includes MLB’s Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers; the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, and Seattle Reign; MLS’s Colorado Rapids; and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

    The series, which features a dragon riding school and, of course, a tumultuous love triangle, isn’t the first to branch out into the sports market to connect to fans. The Phillies are hosting Harry Potter night on Sept. 24 vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, and the first 3,000 fans to buy a ticket will receive a Phillies-themed Harry Potter house banner.

    The Fourth Wing partnership is the first of its kind for the Union, according to Imming, who’s been with the club since its inception.

    “We’ve definitely never done any type of book deal, but obviously with ‘BookTok,’ the romantasy genre is really popular, I’ve come to learn,” Imming said.

    “We’ve been working on this for many, many months, and it’s hard to believe that [Wednesday is] the night where it all comes together.”

  • Brandon Graham is ‘officially done.’ Let’s look back at his most memorable moments with the Eagles.

    Brandon Graham is ‘officially done.’ Let’s look back at his most memorable moments with the Eagles.

    Brandon Graham is retiring — again.

    On Tuesday, at a “Breakfast with the Birds” event hosted by Jefferson Health, the Eagles great announced that he was “officially done.” Graham, 38, retired in March 2025 following the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX. But the Eagles re-signed Graham after Week 7 last season as they lacked depth on the defensive line.

    On Tuesday, Graham put to rest any question whether he would return to the Eagles in 2026.

    Eagles legend Brandon Graham announces he’s done playing football — again

    “But let me tell you this, [the Eagles] are in great hands,” Graham said. “Jordan Davis, I’m telling you, he is a guy that’s going to get the defense going. On offense, I can’t wait for Jalen [Hurts] to prove them haters wrong as always and get us back to the promised land.

    “I’m going to still be around. 
 I’m still giving wisdom, helping the guys.”

    When Graham called it quits the first time, The Inquirer put together a list of his best moments on and off the field. Just like Graham did for the Eagles, we are running it back with another list of No. 55’s most memorable moments:

    His tearful goodbye

    When Graham announced his retirement in 2025, the Eagles all-time leader in games played took to the podium to say his goodbyes. Just as Jason Kelce did a year prior, Graham fought through tears to thank his coaches, teammates, and the city.

    “And finally, to Philadelphia,” Graham said. “We didn’t start so tight. As you know, you made me work for this, and I appreciate you for that. Through the struggles, the injuries, and the moment where I had to prove myself over and over again, you never let me get comfortable.

    “You held me accountable. You kept that chip on my shoulder. You pushed me to be better, and when the time came, we celebrated together two times. This city is built on hard work, resilience, and unmatched passion, and you bring the same energy to every game, every moment, every season.”

    The strip sack

    Two photographs from Super Bowl LII are hanging in many a sports bar in Philadelphia: Nick Foles catching the touchdown pass on the “Philly Special” and Graham’s strip sack of Tom Brady.

    The latter helped clinch the Eagles’ first Super Bowl in franchise history, cementing Graham as an all-time great. When asked about the play in 2023, Graham said it “changed my life.” Like many Eagles fans, Graham admitted he watches the play to cheer him up when he’s having a “bad day.”

    Before the Eagles’ 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season, Graham reunited on the field with Brady, who was in town for Fox’s broadcast of the game.

    Mason Spencer (right), 8, of Langhorne, presented Brandon Graham with the Mason Spencer Man of the Year Award in 2025.William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer

    Winning the Mason Spencer ‘Man of the Year Award’

    In December 2019, Mason Spencer received a kidney transplant at just 3 years old. Following his operation, Spencer met with Graham four times. The two quickly formed a friendship.

    “I consider BG my friend,” Spencer said. “The reason I’m awarding this to him is for his kindness and his charity.”

    This defense won’t be the best in Eagles history. But it will be plenty good enough. Even great.

    In 2025, after Graham missed out on the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which honors players for their philanthropy and community impact, Spencer awarded him with the “Mason Spencer Man of the Year Award” — fit with a custom superhero trophy.

    The award’s significance was not lost on Graham.

    “I’m glad that I can be a service to him and his family,” Graham told The Inquirer. “Especially during a time nobody wants to go through. It’s a beautiful thing when you have support behind you and you have people that’s fighting with you. So for him to go through everything he had to go through, it’s so cool that he can still think about others.

    Brandon Graham had to take on a new role when he unretired during the 2025 season and rejoined the Eagles.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Learning a new position

    After unretiring in 2025, Graham expected to contribute as an edge rusher — as he had through his first 15 years in the league. However, with Jalen Carter sidelined for multiple weeks following a shoulder procedure, Graham was tasked with consistent snaps at defensive tackle for the first time in his career.

    The veteran was game for the challenge and learned from Davis — who is 12 years younger than him.

    Meet the 2026 Eagles: What to know about every player

    “When I’m watching him, man, I’m learning as I’m going,” Graham told The Inquirer. “Because they’re the ones running everything over there. They know what’s going on. So I’m just picking their brain and just asking them what they think when I go.“

    Added defensive tackle Moro Ojomo: “It’d be similar to maybe someone writing with their right hand and then starting to write with their left hand. It’s not as easy as you may think it is. There are similarities, but it takes some time, and, definitely, if anyone can do it the way he’s doing it, it would be him.”

    Brandon Graham with former Eagles quarterback and Chiefs backup Carson Wentz after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Retearing his triceps during the Super Bowl

    In a win over the Los Angeles Rams in November 2024, Graham tore his triceps. He had already announced that the season would be his last, so it appeared Graham’s playing career would end at So-Fi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

    However, the Graham made a surprise comeback to suit up for Super Bowl LIX just 11 weeks later.

    Following the Eagles’ 40-22 win over the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, Graham celebrated in the locker room. He embraced general manager Howie Roseman, who drafted him in 2010, took a selfie with Hurts, and danced with fellow Detroit native Avonte Maddox. He also made sure to FaceTime fellow team legend Jason Peters.

    To any onlooker, it would be difficult to tell that Graham was dealing with significant pain. During the game, Graham actually retore his triceps.